Condenser



Feb. 25, 1930. D. w. R. MORGAN ,6 5

I CONDENSER Filed Feb. 11, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l R S In O o Pg if k N p N In M N 3 l2 I. 5 f9"- l. d m N m m 9 D VV. .Morgc n WITNESSK H lNv lTOR 6.

BY Q GE M a ATTORN EY Feb. 25, 1930. D, w, R, AN 1,748,676

CONDENSER Filed Feb. 11, 192'? s Shets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1930. D. R. MORGAN 1,748,676

. CONDENSER Filed Feb. 11, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 3' \2 unnoun f 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Car partition off various portions of the tube nest for use as air cooling chambers and it has also been proposed to provide air cooling chambers located eXteriorly and separate from the condenser shell. As a general rule, however, in such arrangements the cooling chamber occupies space which might otherwise have been used for condensing or other purposes.

I have, therefore, devised a condenser in which the tube nest is so arranged as to be of the radial flow type. All tubes have been omitted from the central core area of the nest in order that all of the tubes may be rendered highly effective in the transfer of heat. I further utilize this otherwise useless internal core space of the tube nest as an air and non-condensable gas cooling chamber, and, to this end, I provide a conduit having a relatively large flow area and occupying substantially the entire core space of the tube nest. This conduit is preferably of such proportions that it is capable of conveying all or a portion of the cooling water to the tube nest. In this way, a tremendous body of cooling water passes longitudinally through the center of the tube nest for the entire length of the condenser shell before its entry into the cooling tubes. Within this large centrally disposed conduit, I locate the air and non-condensable gas offtake so that it is subject to the cooling action of this large'body of water which the conduit conveys. In other words, the air and non-condensable gases are subjected to the cooling action of all of the cooling water supplied to the condenser before they are withdrawn by the air removal apparatus and before this water has come in contact with the tube nest.

Intake manifolds for the air and noncondensable gas otltake are located circumferentially about the exterior of the large centrally disposed conduit and are spaced longitudinally of the condenser so that the air and noncondensable gases are withdrawn over an unusually large region and hence there is no such material segregation of the airand noncondensable gases at any one point in the condenser shell as will insulate or blanket any portion of the tube nest. 4

It will, therefore, be apparent that I have provided a condenser which embodies all three desirable, basic features in that it is of the radial flow type, has all of its tubes ar ranged in the form of a thin annular band so that every tube is highly active, and has a very'effective air and non-condensable gas cooling chamber which is so located in the condenser as to occupy that portion of the condenser shell which is not readily adapted for condensing purposes.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of my invention, I show a condenser shell 10 provided with an exhaust steam inlet 11 and a condensate outlet 12. Secured to the respective ends of the condenser shell are tube sheets 13 and 14 to which are connected suitable water boxes 15 and 16.

As shown in Fig. 2, a tube nest 17 is located within the shell. As is apparent from the drawing, the tube nest is preferably arranged in the form of a hollow cylinder, the tubes bein supported in the tube sheets 13 and 14 in a manner well understood in the art. The tube nest is so located within thershell that the steam or fluid to be condensed can enter it at substantially any point about its periphery, although I may, if I so desire, arrange this steam delivery space that it surrounds only a portion of the tube nest. I may also make the cooling medium conduit and the noncondensable gas conduit eccentric with respect to the tube nest. It is further apparent from Fig. 2 that the tube nest is so cored out that the tubes are all arranged in the form of a relatively thin annular band having a maximum entrance area and a minimum length of radial steam travel.

Located within the core space 18 of the tube nest is a conduit 19 which ispreferably of such proportions that it is capable of conveying all or a substantial percentage of the cooling fluid required by the tube nest. The tube sheets 13 and 14 are preferably annular in shape and the conduit 19 is supported at its one end 20 upon the inner periphery of the tube sheet 13 while a stufiing box 20 is provided at the other end for permitting longitudinal movement of the conduit relative to the tube nest. The conduit 19 may be arranged in sections, as illustrated, to facilitate assembly of the condenser although this construction may be varied to suit the requirements. It will be apparent from the drawing that the conduit 19 serves to stay the condenser longitudinally.

As is customary with condensers of large capacity, a plurality of intermediate tube supporting plates 21 and 22 are provided dividing the condenser shell into, what may be termed, compartments 23, 2% and 25. Each of these compartments is provided with a circular air and non-condensable gas intake manifold 26 having a plurality of radially disposed inlets 27, the manifold being connected by two or more radially disposed conduits 28 to an air and non-condensable gas o'fftake main 29 located in the central portion of the conduit 19 and extending longitudinally with it. The air and non-condensable gas offtake main 29 is provided witha plurality of expansion joints 30. It is arranged to terminate in a wall of the water box 16, as at 31, where it may be connected to the air removal apparatus in a manner well understood in the art. The water box 15 is provided with an intake passage 32 arranged to connect directly with the entrant portion of the conduit 19 while water box 16 is cuspidated so as to radially convey the cooling water from the discharge portion of the conduit 19 to the enimmediate and intimate contact of 1 steam the tube nest, as pointed outiheretofore, does not materially increase the size or propor- 7 trant end ofthe tube nest with a minimum amount of'resistance to flow. "As shown 'in Fig. 8, the water box'l'o has an annular passage'surrounding the intake 32and connecting with an outlet 33 for the discharge of the cooling water leaving the tube nest.

From the-foregoing description, the opera- 'tion of my condenser will-be apparent. Ex-

fli)

I in any locality.

haust steam is admitted to the condenser shell through the inlet 11 and substantially surrounds the entire nest of tubes. Exhaust steam is drawn radially inward toward the circumferentially"disposed inletsQ'F' of the several air and non-condensablegas-intake manifolds 26 and the-steam is condensed'in its passage over the cooling tubes. QAs the tube nest is arranged in the form of. a thin annu lar bandit will be apparent that the distance of vapor travel is a minimum, that the spacing and distribution'ofthe tubes is .such that therewith is assured, and that the residual velocity energy of thesteam is very .little absorbed. In addition, because of the extreme ly large circumference'of'each intake manifold as Well'as the large number of manifolds provided, the withdrawal of the air and non-.

condensable gases is not concentrated in any one locality but takes place over a very large region and" consequently there is. substantially no blanketing or insulatingof the tubes Cooling water for the condenser is ad finitted through the intake 82 andpassesdirectly through the conduit 19 to the water box 16 wherein its direction of flow is rerversed and it travels back through the tubes of the nest and leaves the condenser through the outlet 33. It istherefore apparent that an extraordinary or tremendousamountof cooling water is available for reducing the temperatureof the air and"non-conde'nsable gases pass ng through the ofitake main, 29

and leaving the condenser through-the outlet- 31. The locating of the conduit 19 within tions of the condenser bebause of the advantages obtained throughomitting tubes inthis central core 'area. Condensate is withdrawn from the hotwell12 in a manner well under- 1 stood in 'the'a-rt.

The condenser disclosed of the singlepass type, the cooling water being admitted and discharged from the same water-box.

This arrangement is particularly desirable with installations whereln the condensers are I located in a v'er'ticalposit-ion and where it is advantageous to'both supply and discharge the water from the lower end. While I have shown a condenser of the single-pass type, i'ievertheless, it is obvious that I may associate-the-conduit 1.9 with condensers-of the I multi p ass type without in Tanydvaydeparh ing from the. spirit" or my invention. atlconduit 51.-

dition, itis also pointed outthat, while I have illustrated a condenser of the, radialflow type, nevertheless, my invention is equally applicable to condensers of the down flow type or to condensers of the partial radial "and partial down flow type.

It is obvious that the maximum cooling action can'be-obtained by-circulatingthe coohngwater first through the conduit and thence through the tubenest, although itis perfectly obvious that if, for any reason, less intensecooli'ng action'is desired, the water. may bereadily circulated through the tube nest before "its passage through the conduit 19mIn other words, the directionof the flow ofcooling water can be readily reversed. I

Referring now to 1'51g.='4,-I show a condenser,

of the'down-fiow type which is provided with a shell 41 and a nest ofcooling tubes 42,2111 arranged in a. manner well understood in the art. Extending longitudinally of the condenser shell 41 is a division plate 43 which defines with the 'shell4l a relatively large cool after which its flow is reversed and it returns through the nest'of'cooling tubes 42.. Air and non-condensable gases are. withdrawn. from the condensing chamber throughthe branch conduit 46 and the air and non-condensable ice gas'ofitake .45 by any suitable'form of air removal apparatus. It will therefore be apparent that the airand non-condensable gases leaving the condenser through the :ofitake main 45 are subjected to the cooling action of the relatively" large body of cooling water passing longitudinally through the conduit 44. This embodiment-of my'invention clear-. ly demonstrates that my inventive idea is applicable to not onlycondens'ers of the radialfiow type but to condensers of the down-flow typeaswell. A In Fig. 5, I show. still another embodiment of my invention which is similar to that shownin Fig. 1, with the exception that the air and non-'conden'sable gas offtake main 29 is not located inside of the-centrally disposed cooling water conduit19bu't, on the other hand, is arranged exteriorly' of this conduit.

This may be accomplished'byproviding asecond conduit 51 concentrically without the conduit 19. The inner bore of the'conduit 51 and the outer circumference of the conduit 19- defin e an annular air and non-condensable gas offtake main 52, a plurality of suitable inlet openings 53 beingprovided in the outer The air". manta-emanate gases leaving the ofitake main 52 enter an an nular passage 5e located in one of the water boxes. -C-onnected to the annular passage 54 is an outlet passage passing through the water box.

In operation, the cooling water passes longitudinally through the inner conduit 19 and thence through the tube nest. The air and non-condensable gases are drawn through the openings 58 into the annular offtake main 52 and are withdrawn through the annular passage 54 and outlet passage 55 by suitable 7 air rem-oval apparatus. In passing through the annular offtake main 52 and the annular passage 54, the air and non-condensable gases are very effectively cooled inasmuch as they are in constant contact with the large body of relatively low temperature cooling Water passing through the water box 15 and the conduit 19. v

\Vhile I have shown my invention in sev eral forms, it will be obvioust-o those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by-the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a surface condenser having circulating water inlet and outlet connections located at a common end, the combination of a shell structure having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell structure, a nest of cooling tubes extending between the tube sheets for conveying circulating water in a single direction through the shell structure, said shell structure forming a direct passage for steam between its inlet and the entire axial length of the tube nest, said tube nest connecting with one of the water connections, a single conduit embodied in and extending longitudinally of the shell structure, said conduit being connected at one end to the other of said water connections and communicating at its other end with all of the tubes of the nest and said conduit having a relatively larger flow-area than any of the tubes of the nest in order to convey adequatecirculating water for all of the tubes of the nest, and air and non-condensable gas off-take means disposed in heat-exchanging relation with the circulating water passing through the conduit.

2. In a surface condenser having circulating water inlet and outlet connections located at a common end, the'combination of a shell structure having a steam inlet and condensate outlet, tube. sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell structure, a nest of cooling tubes extending between the tube sheets for conveying circulating water in a single direction longitudinally through the shell structure, said shell structure forming a direct passage for steam between its inlet and 3. In a surface condenser having circulat- 5 ing water inlet and outlet connections located at a common end, the combination of a shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a substantiallycylindrical nest of tubes extending between the tube sheets and connecting with one of the water connections for conveying circulating water in a single direction longitudinally through the shell, said tube nest defining with the walls of the shell a steam delivery space surrounding a considerable portion of the tube nest and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, anda single conduit extending longitudinally within the tube nest and connected at one end to the other of said waterconnections and communicating at its other end with all of the tubes of the nest, said conduit having a relatively larger flowarea than any of the tubes of the nest in order to convey adequate cooling water for all of the tubes of the nest.

4. Ina condenser, the combination of a shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a substantiallycylindrical nest of tubes extending between the tube sheets and defining with the walls of the shell a steam delivery space surrounding a considerable portion of the tube nest and extending throughout the entire axial length of the tube nest, a conduit for supplying cooling Water to the tube nest and extending longitudinally through the condenser shell and located in a central portion of the tube nest, and an air and non-condensable gas olftake disposed Within the conduit and arranged to withdraw air and non-condensable gases from the inner portion of the tube nest.

5. In a condenser, the combination of a shell, a cooling tube dividing said shell into a condensing chamber and an air and noncondensable gas cooling chamber, a steam inlet and a condensate outlet provided in the shell and communicating with the condensing chamber, an air and non-condensable gas off-take connecting with the cooling chamber, a nest of condensing .tubes'disposed in the condensing chamber, said shell forming a. direct passage for steam between its inlet and the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, and/means for connecting one end of the tube nest to said 'coolingtube, saidcooling tube having "a relatively larger flow-area than any of'the tubes otthe nest in order to convey adequate cooling water for I allot the tubes of the nest.

r 6. In a condenser,-'th e "combination of a' shell having a steaminlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end m of the shell, a nest ofcooling'tubes extending direct passage for steam between its inlet and the entire longitudinal length of the tube" between'the tube sheets, said shell forming a nest, a single conduit communicating with v m V s the tubesof the nestinorder to convey adequate "cooling water'for all ofthe tubes of the nest, and air and non-'cond'ensable gas off-take one end of thetube nest and 'extendinglongi tudinally within the shell, said'conduit hav g a relatively larger flow-area. thanjany of means disposed in heat [exchanging relation 7 with the conduit.

7 7 Q In a condenser,-the combination of a shell'having' a steam inlet'and a condensate outlet, t'u'be sheets fixedly securedateach end of the shell, anest of cooling tubes'ext'ending between the tube sheets,said she'll forminga direct passage for steam between its inlet and the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, a conduit communicatingwith one end *ofthe tube nest and extending longitudinally 'w'ithin the shell-to the other end of the tube nest, Esaid'conduit having a relatively larger flow 'area'than any ofthe tubes of the nestin order to convey adequate cooling water "for" all of the tubes of the nest, and air oil-take means disposed within the conduit.

8; In a condenser, the combination of a shell structure having a; steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedlysecured at each end of the shell structure, a nestof cooling tubes extending between the tube sheets,'s'aid shell structure formingf'a direct passage for steam between its inlet and the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, a

single conduit embodied in and extending longitudinally of the shell structure and com municating'at one end with the tube nest, and air oft-take means disposed in heat transfer relation with the conduit, said conduit having a'relatively larger fiow-areathan any of the tubes of the nest-in order to convey adequate cooling water for all of the 'tubes'of the nest.

outlet, tube sheets the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest and :eachof the sald tubes having a relatively small fiow area-,a conduit extending longitud-inally within the shelland having a flow area not less than sixty times the flow area of the respective tubes, said conduit being disposed in open communication with one end of the tubenest for conveying cooling fluid for all of the tubes. and. air and non-condensable' gas ofltake means disposed in heat exchangingrelation with'th'e conduit; L

, l0. .In acondensen the combination-offa shell havingarsteam inlet and a condensate l outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a nest ofcooling tubes extending between the'tubesheets, said shell forming a direct passagefor'steain between its inlet and the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest,

said cooling tub'es'being so arranged within the shell as to f define a, longitudinally extending space,'a single conduitin said space disposed in open communication withone end of the tube nest, said conduit having. a relati'vely larger flow-area than anyof the tubes of the nest-in order to convey adequate cooling water for all of the tubes of thenest, and

air and non-conderisable gas offtake means arranged in heat transferrelation with the cooling fluid passing through the conduit.

' 11. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at eachend of the shell, 'a nest of'cooling tubes extending between the tube sheets, said shell forming a direct-passage for steam betweenits inlet'and the entire longitudinal length of the tubenest and said cooling tubes being so arranged with- 'in the'shell as to define a longitudinally extending hollow portion coaxial with respect tothe tube nest, a single conduit occupymg said hollow portion, said conduit being dis-l posedin open communication with one end of the tube nest and said conduit having a relaing water for all of the tubes of the nest, and

air and nonlcondens'able gas 'ofitake means located within thehollow portion inheat" transfer relation with the cooling fluid passing through the conduit. J I s '12. In a condensen'thecombination of a shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheetsfixedly secured at each end of the shell a nest of tubes extending'between the tube sheets, said 'shel-lforming "a direct passage for steam between its inlet'fandthe entire longitudinal length offth'e tube nest, a water box associated-withtheinlet end of the tube nest, aw'ater boxaissofciated with the discharge endof thetube nest, cooling water inlet andoutlet means provided in thewater box associated with the discharge end of the tiv ely larger flow-area than any of the t ubes ofthe nest in order to convey adequatelcooltube nest, a conduit for conveyingthe coo'ling discharge end of the tube nest to the water box associated with the inlet end of the tube nest, said conduit having a relatively, larger 7 flow-area than vany of the tubes of the nest in order to convey cooling water for'all of the tubes of the nest, and, air and non-con densable gas 'oiltake means disposed in conwater from the water box associated withthe 1 tact with'the cooling water passing through the said conduit.

r 13. In a condenser, thecombination of a shell having a steaminlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a substantially cylindrical nestof tubes extending betweenthe tube sheets and defining with the shell a steam delivery space substantially surrounding the nest of tubes and extending throughout the entire axial length of the tube nest, said cylindrical nest of tubes having a relatively large core area, a single conduit occupying substantially the entire core space of the tube nest'and disposed in open communication with one end of the tube nest, said conduit having a relatively larger flow-area than any of the tubes of the nest in order to convey adequate cooling water for all of the tubes of the nest, and an air and non-condensable gas ofitake located in the path of the cooling water passing through the conduit.

14. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having-a steam inlet and aicondensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a substantially hollow cylindri cal nest of tubes extending betweenthe tube sheets and defining with the walls of the shell a steam delivery space surrounding a considerable portion of the tube nest and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, an air and non-condensable gas offtake extending through the hollow interior of the tube nest, means for conveying a relatively large quantity of cooling water about the air and non-condensable gas ofl' take, branch otftalres having their entrant portions located adjacent the inner periphery of the tube nest and connecting with the air and non-condensable gas otltake, and means for conveying cooling. water to the tube nest. v

15. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a substantially hollow cylindrical nest of tubes extending between the tube sheets and defining with the walls of the shell a steam delivery space surrounding a considerable portion of the tube nest and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, an air and non-condensable gas oiftake extending through the hollow interior of the tube nest, means for admitting cooling water to the condenser, means for conveying said cooling water through the hollow interior of the tube nest and to the tubes of the nest, and radially extending branch conduits for connecting the inner periphery of the tube nest to the air and noncondensable gas oiltake.

16. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a cylindrical nest of tubes exe tending between the tube SllGGJS and defining withthe walls of theshell a steam delivery space surrounding a considerable portion of the tube nest, and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tube'nest, a conduit extending longitudinally through the shell for conveying cooling water for the tube nest, an air and non-condensable gas 01%- take extending within the conduit, and branch passages leading from the exterior of the conduit to the air and non-condensable gas offtake disposed, within the conduit, whereby air and non-condensable gases are removed from the tube nest.

17. In a condenser, the combination of a shell havinga steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube sheets fixedly secured at each end of the shell, a substantially hollow cylindrical nest of tubes extending between the tube sheets and defining with the walls of the shell a steam delivery space surrounding a considerable portion of the tube nest, and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest one or more substantially annular intake manifolds located in the bore of the tube nest for withdrawing air and non-co ndensable gases radially from the nest, an air and non-condensable gas ofitake main extending longitudinally through the hollow interior of the tube nest and connecting with the respective manifolds, and, means for passing cooling fluid through the hollow interior of the tubenest and to thetubes, whereby the cooling fluid is utilized to reduce the temperature of the air and noncondensable gases before its entry into the tube nest. p

18. In a condenser, the combinat on of a shell having a steam inlet and acondensate outlet, a substantially hollow cylindrical nest of tubes disposed witnin the shell and defining with the walls of the shell a steam delivery space surrounding a considerable portion of the tube nest and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, tube sheets and water boxes'fitted at each end of the tube nest and fixedly secured to the shell, tube supporting plates located intermediate of the tube sheets and dividing the shell longitudinally into a plurality of compartments, a substantially annular intake manifold provided for each compartment and locatedin the bore of the tube nest for withdrawing air and non-condensable gases radially from the tube nest, an air and non-condensable gas ofi'take main extending longitudinally through the hollow interior of the tube nest and connecting with the respective intakemanit'olds, and means for conveying cooling water through the hollow interior of the nest and to the tubes of the nest, whereby the air and non-condensable gases passing 7 boxes being arranged to convey cooling water 19. In a condenser, the combinationiofa: shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, a substantially vhollow cylindrical nest of tubes disposed Within'the shell and defining with the walls of the shell a steam de-'- livery space surrounding'a considerable portion of the tube nest and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tube nest, a conduit occupying the bore of the tube nest, an annulartube sheet associated with each end of the tube nest, a water box assoclated with each tube sheet, one of water tothe conduit and to discharge cooling Water. trom' the tube nest and the other of said watel boxes being arranged to convey cooling water 7 from the conduit'to thetube nest, and an air and non-condensable gas ofitake main extendinglongitudinallyr through the interior of the conduit, said ofi'take main having its ena trant portions communicating with the inner.

I periphery charge portion terminating in a wall of one ofthe tube nest andhavin'git s disof the water boxes.

tube sheet, one of said water boxes, having a cooling water inlet passage connecting with the conduit and a'cooling water outlet passageconnecting With the tube nest and the othervof said Water boxes being arranged to convey cooling water from the conduit to the tube nest, annular tube supporting plates located inter-mediate of the tube sheets and dividing; the space intervening between the conduit and the shell into a plurality of coman annular intake manifold for partments," each compartment located in the bo'reof the tube nest for wlthdrawing airand non-conair and non-condens'able gas ofltake main located 1n the conduit and connecting with the respective manifolds.

In testimony whereof, scribed my name this second day of February,

. DAVID l/V.

20. In a' c'ondenser,'the combination ofa shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, a substantially hollow cylindrical nest 7 I tube sheet; 'one of said, water boxes having a cooling water inlet passage connecting with considerable portion the conduit and a cooling Water outlet passage connecting with-the tube nest and the other of said Water boxesbeing arranged to convey cooling water from the conduit to the tube nest, and an air and non-condensable gas ofitake main extending through the interior of the conduit,said ofi'talremain having its en-. trantportions communicating with the inner periphery of the tube nest and having its discharge ortion terminating in a wall of'one of the water boxes.

'- s 21. In a condenser, the combination ofa shell having a steam inlet anda condensate outlet, a substantially hollow cylindrical nest of tubes disposed withinthe shell and defining with the Walls ofthe shella steam delivery space surrounding a'considerable portion of the'tube vnest and extending throughout the entire longitudinal length of the tubenest, a conduit occupying the bore of the tube nest,

an annular tube sheet associated with each end of the conduit, each of said tube sheets having its inner periphery connected to the oonduit and its'outer periphery connected to the shell, a Water box associated with each densable gasesradially fromthe nest, andan 3,

Ihave hereunto'suba 

